Tubular hose device

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a tubular hose device for transporting milk to an inlet nipple. The device includes successively a first end portion ( 2 ), a strengthened portion ( 3 ) and a main hose portion ( 4 ). The first end portion is attachable to the nipple by having the nipple introduced into the first end portion. The strengthened portion includes a main segment adjoining the first end portion and having a wall thickness that is thicker than the wall thickness of the main hose portion. The strengthened portion also includes a transition segment adjoining the main hose portion and having an upper part ( 17 ) and an opposite lower part ( 18 ). The upper part has a wall thickness that is thicker than the wall thickness of main hose portion. The lower part has a wall thickness that is substantially equal to the wall thickness of the main hose portion.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention refers to a tubular hose device forming an innerpassage for transporting milk to a claw having at least one inletnipple, the hose device including along a longitudinal direction thefollowing successive portions:

a first end portion;

a strengthened portion; and

a main hose portion,

the first end portion being adapted to be attached to the inlet nipplein a mounted state of the hose device by having the nipple introducedinto the first end portion, the strengthened portion including a mainsegment adjoining the first end portion and having a wall thickness thatis thicker than the wall thickness of the first end portion and the mainhose portion.

Such a hose device may be employed in a short milk conduit of a milkingsystem. The short milk conduit is usually manufactured in a rubber-likematerial and extends between a teatcup and an inlet nipple of a claw ofa milking member. The short milk conduit may be a separate hose or maybe a part of a teatcup liner, which is mounted in the shell of theteatcup. The short milk conduit is attached to the inlet nipple of theclaw, which nipple typically is designed as a short obliquely cut pipe,in such a way that the nipple is introduced into the inner channel ofthe conduit. During milking, the short milk conduit extendssubstantially straight, or along a smooth curve, from the inlet nippleto the teatcup. After a milking operation and between the milkingoperations, the short milk conduit is bent at the inlet nipple. Thepurpose of this bending is to close the short milk conduit in order toprevent air from being sucked into the teatcup and the milking systemwhen the teatcup is not attached to the teat. An efficient closing ofthe conduit is obtained by means of the obliquely cut inlet nipple,wherein the wall of the inner passage of the short milk conduit abutssealingly the end surface of the inlet nipple.

One problem by such a hose device in the context of milking is that thehose device is subjected to shocks caused by the animal. For instance,the milking member can be kicked by the animal or fall down onto thefloor, wherein the end area of the hose device can be damaged by therelatively sharp edge of the oblique inlet nipple, which can lead toleakage.

This problem has been solved by the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,196,696. The hose device disclosed in this document is provided with ashock absorber or a strengthened portion, extending over a certainlength between the end portion and the main hose portion of the hosedevice. The strengthened portion has a thicker wall thickness than thesurrounding portions, and is provided with elongated projections evenlydistributed around the circumference of the strengthened portion of thehose device. The strengthened portion will protect the hose device fromthe edge of the inlet nipple when the hose device is subjected to shocksof different kinds.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,205 discloses further tubular hose device for ashort milk conduit. The tubular hose device includes a strengthenedportion with a greater wall thickness to be positioned at the end of theinlet nipple of a claw.

WO00/76298 discloses a similar tubular hose device for a short milkconduit. In this case the hose device has a varying wall thickness alongthe axial extension of the strengthened portion as well as along aperipheral direction. The problem to be solved by the hose deviceaccording to this prior art document is to ensure an optimal milk flowduring milking by designing the hose device in the proximity of and atthe strengthened portion in such a way that the inner cross-section ofthe hose device is circular when the hose device is mounted to the inletnipple.

A problem with such a strengthened portion is that the greater wallthickness reduces the flexibility of the hose device, and renders thebending of the hose device more difficult. Consequently, there can be arisk of a less efficient closing of the short milk conduit so that aircan enter the interior of the milking system when the teatcup is notattached to a teat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a tubular hose deviceby which the problems mentioned above may be remedied. A further objectis to provide a tubular hose device, which has a high strength and whichpermits bending of the hose device in the proximity of the inlet nipple.A still further object is to provide a tubular hose device which can bebent to close off the inner passage of the hose device in a tight andefficient manner.

This object is achieved by the tubular hose device initially defined,which is characterised in that the strengthened portion also includes atransition segment adjoining the main hose portion, wherein thetransition segment has an upper part and an opposite lower part andwherein the upper part of the transition segment has a wall thicknessthat is thicker than the wall thickness of the main hose portion,whereas the lower part of the transition segment has a wall thicknessthat is substantially equal to the wall thickness of the main hoseportion. Consequently, the transition segment has an upper part whichhas a greater wall thickness in a radial direction than the lower part.By such a design, a sufficient strength of the hose device in theproximity of the edge of the inlet nipple will be achieved by the upperpart whereas the lower part of the transition segment permits an easybending of the tubular hose device in the proximity of the inlet nipplefor closing off the inner passage. Advantageously, the transitionsegment may have a length that is adapted to facilitate bending of thetubular hose device at the strengthened portion. Consequently, thetransition segment may have a length that is sufficient for ensuringbending and thus a tight closing of the inner passage, and at the sametime the length should ensure sufficient strength to the hose device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the transitionsegment has a length that is at least 10% of the length of thestrengthened portion. By such a length a sufficient bending ability maybe ensured. Preferably, the transition segment has a length that is atleast 15% of the length of the strengthened portion. More preferably,the transition segment has a length that is at least 20% of the lengthof the strengthened portion.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the upperpart with the thicker wall thickness has an extension in a peripheraldirection, which extension is less than 180°. Such a peripheralextension is sufficient for ensuring the strength of the hose device andthe transition portion. The lower part of the transition segment thusmay have a peripheral extension that is greater than 180°.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the inletnipple has an end surface, which is obliquely cut, wherein the hosedevice in the mounted state is arranged to be attached to the inletnipple in such a way that the end surface extends into the strengthenedportion. By means of the upper portion having a thicker wall thicknessthe hose device is protected against the edge of the opening of theinlet nipple when the hose device is subjected to shocks.

Advantageously, the hose device is adapted to be located in such arotary position in relation to the inlet nipple that the upper part ofthe transition segment faces the end surface of the inlet nipple. Thus,according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the firstend portion includes positioning means for determining the rotaryposition of the hose device in relation to the inlet nipple. The firstend portion may then have an end surface, wherein the positioning meansincludes a chamfer or bevel provided at the end surface of the first endportion. By such a chamfer, which may be substantially plane or concave,possibilities are created to position the end surface of the end portionto abutment against an outer wall surface of the claw even if the clawincludes projecting portions reducing the space being available to theshort milk hose. Advantageously, the chamfer and the upper part of thetransition segment are located substantially straight after each otherseen in the longitudinal direction. By such a design, the orientation inthe rotary direction of the hose device is facilitated when the hosedevice is to be mounted to the inlet nipple.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the thickerwall thickness of the main segment and the transition segment is formedby an outwardly convex bead. The bead of the main segment may extendaround the periphery of the main segment. The bead of the transitionsegment may extend over the upper part, but not over the lower part.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, thestrengthened portion has an outer side that is provided with grooveswhich extend in the longitudinal direction of the hose device oversubstantially the whole strengthened portion. The grooves may thusextend into the bead of the main segment and the transition segment. Insuch a way, the strength of the hose device is improved in this area,which is subjected to wear due to the hose device frequently being bentin a short milk conduit application. Advantageously, some of the groovesof the strengthened portion extend continuously in the longitudinaldirection over the main segment and the upper part of the transitionsegment.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the devicealso includes a liner portion provided successively after the main hoseportion, wherein the liner portion is adapted to be introduced into ateatcup shell and to receive a teat during milking of an animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now to be explained by means of the description of anembodiment and with reference to the drawings attached.

FIG. 1 discloses a perspective view of a hose device according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 discloses a side view of a part of the hose device in FIG. 1 in anon-mounted state.

FIG. 3 discloses a side view of a part of a hose device according to theprior art.

FIG. 4 discloses a sectional view of a part of the hose device in FIG. 1in a mounted state.

FIG. 5 discloses a sectional view a part of the hose device according tothe prior art.

FIG. 6 discloses a sectional view of a part of the hose device in FIG. 1in a mounted state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 discloses a hose device in the form of a teatcup liner 1 for ateatcup of a milking member. The hose device or the teatcup liner 1 istubular and includes the following successive portions: a first endportion 2, a strengthened portion 3, a main hose portion 4 and a linerportion 5.

The liner portion 5 is adapted to be introduced and mounted in a shell(not shown) of the teatcup. The main hose portion 4, the strengthenedportion 3 and the first end portion 2 form a short milk conduit betweena claw 6, see FIG. 4, and the liner portion 5 and the teatcup. The linerportion 5 includes in a conventional manner an opening through which theteat of an animal can be received during milking of the animal.

It is to be noted that the hose device according to this invention alsomay consist of the first end portion 2, the strengthened portion 3 andthe main hose portion 4, wherein these three portions are separate fromthe liner portion 5 and connectable to the liner portion 5 in anysuitable manner when the hose device is to be mounted in a teatcupshell. The present invention will now be exemplified with reference tothe teatcup liner 1 disclosed even if the invention is applicable toother tubular hose devices intended to be mounted to pipe ends.

The teatcup liner 1 disclosed is manufactured in one single piece of aflexible and elastic rubber material. Such rubber materials aresubstantially incompressible, i.e. the volume of a piece of materialremains substantially constant independently of the fact that thematerial is subjected to deformations.

The teatcup liner 1 includes a tubular wall defining an inner passage 7,which extends through the whole length of the teatcup liner 1, i.e.through the first end portion 2, the strengthened portion 3, the mainhose portion 4 and the liner portion 5. The inner passage 7 of theteatcup liner 1 is arranged to transport milk from the teatcup mentionedabove to the claw 6. The milk is then collected in the claw 6 andsupplied from the claw 6 to a milk-collecting member (not shown) via along milk conduit (not shown).

The teatcup liner 1 may be in a non-mounted state, as shown in FIG. 1,or in a mounted state in which the teatcup liner 1 is mounted onto aninlet nipple 8 of the claw 6, see FIG. 4. The teatcup liner 1 may alsobe in a substantially straight rest position, which is disclosed in FIG.1, wherein the teatcup liner 1 extends along a longitudinal axis x. Theteatcup liner 1 has a substantially circular shape seen in substantiallyany cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis x. Thelongitudinal axis x forms the centre axis of the inner passage 7 alongthe first end portion 2, the strengthened portion 3, the main hoseportion 4 and the liner portion 5 when the teatcup liner 1 is in therest state. The wall thickness of the teatcup liner 1 is substantiallyconstant along the first end portion 2 and the main hose portion 4. Atthe strengthened portion 3, the teatcup liner I has a thicker wallthickness than at the first end portion 2 and the main hose portion 4,as will be explained below.

In the mounted state, the teatcup liner 1 is adapted to be attached tothe inlet nipple 8. The nipple 8 is a short pipe forming an inlet to theinner space 9 of the claw 6, see FIG. 4. The teatcup liner 1 is mountedonto the inlet nipple 8 in such manner that the inlet nipple 8 isintroduce into the inner passage 7. The inlet nipple 8 has, as appearsfrom FIG. 4, an obliquely cut end surface, i.e. the longitudinal axis xis inclined in relation to the end surface by an acute angle α. Theteatcup liner 1 is mounted to the inlet nipple 8 in such a way that theteatcup liner 1 extends to abutment against an outer wall surface 10 ofthe claw 6. The first end portion 2 includes positioning means fordetermining the longitudinal position of the first end portion 2 inrelation to the inlet nipple 8 and the rotary position of the first endportion 2 in relation to the inlet nipple 8. The positioning meansincludes in the embodiment disclosed a chamfer 11 provided on an endsurface of the first end portion 2, i.e. an upper part of the endsurface of the first end portion is sloping and has an angle ofinclination to the longitudinal axis x. As appears from FIG. 4, thechamfer 11 will abut an outer surface area 12 of the claw 6. This outersurface area 12 is formed by a part of the claw 6, which extendsupwardly from the outer wall surface 10 and which is arranged to includedifferent functions, such as for instance a closing valve. The chamfer11 may be a substantially plane surface or a curved, concave surface.Consequently, the chamfer 11 permits, in the example disclosed, theteatcup liner 1 to be displaced to abutment against the outer wallsurface 10 of the claw 6. Consequently, the position of the inlet nipple8 in the inner passage 7 in the longitudinal direction x of the teatcupliner 1 is defined when the teatcup liner 1 is in the mounted statedisclosed in FIG. 4. The positioning means may of course be obtained byanother design than a chamfer, for instance by means of a longitudinalslot in the first end portion in combination with a correspondingprojection on the inlet nipple 8.

The strengthened portion 3 includes a main segment 15 adjoining thefirst end portion 2, and a transition segment 16 adjoining the main hoseportion 4. Furthermore, the main segment 15 adjoins the transitionsegment 16. FIG. 2 discloses more closely the strengthened portion 3according to this invention with the mains segment 15 and the transitionsegment 16, whereas FIG. 3 discloses a strengthened portion without twosuch different segment. The transition segment also exhibits an upperpart 17 and an opposite lower part 18. In the mounted state, the endsurface of the inlet nipple 8 is, as appears from FIG. 4, located in thestrengthened portion 3. More precisely, an outer tip of the end surfaceof the inlet nipple 8 is located approximately where the transitionsegment 16 adjoins the main segment 15. An inner end point of the endsurface of the inlet nipple 8, i.e. a point located more closely to theclaw 6, is located approximately where the strengthened portion 3adjoins the first end portion 2. The end surface or opening of the inletnipple 8 thus extends substantially over the whole length of the mainsegment 15. In the embodiment disclosed the inlet nipple 8 has acircular cross-section, which means that the end surface or opening ofthe inlet nipple will have an oval or elliptic shape. By means of thechamfer 11 or any other positioning means, the teatcup liner 1 will inthe mounted state be located in such a rotary position in relation tothe inlet nipple 8 that the upper part 17 of the transition segment 16faces the end surface of the inlet nipple 8.

The main segment 15 of the strengthened portion 3 has a wall thicknessthat is thicker than the wall thickness of the first end portion 2 andof the main hose portion 4. The upper part 17 of the transition segment16 has a wall thickness that is thicker than the wall thickness of thefirst end portion 2 and of the main hose portion 4. The lower part 18 ofthe transition segment 16 has a wall thickness that is substantiallyequal to the wall thickness of the first end portion 2 and of the mainhose portion 4. The thicker wall thickness of the main segment 15 andthe upper part 17 of the transition segment 16 is formed by an outwardlyconvex bead. The bead of the main segment 15 extends around the wholeperiphery of the main segment 15. Moreover, the bead of the transitionsegment 16 extends over the whole upper part 17, but not over the lowerpart 18.

The main segment 15 has a longer length in the longitudinal direction xthan the transition segment 16. In particular, the transition segment 16has a length that is adapted to facilitate bending of the tubularteatcup liner 1 at the strengthened portion 3 so that the wall surfaceof the inner passage may abut in a tight manner the end surface oropening of the inlet nipple 8. The inventor has found that thetransition segment 16 then may have a length that is at least 10% of thelength of the strengthened portion 3, preferably a length that is atleast 15% of the length of the strengthened portion 3 or more preferablya length that is at least 20% of the length of the strengthened portion3. The transition segment 16 may also have a length which exceeds thevalues defined above. Thus the transition segment 16 may for instance incertain cases be 25%, 30% or even 35% of the length of the strengthenedportion. The total length of the strengthened portion may be forinstance 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or 35 mm.

As appears from in particular FIG. 2, the upper part 17 of thetransition segment 16 has an extension in a peripheral direction, whichextension is less than 180°, which means that the peripheral extensionof the lower part 18 is greater than 180°.

FIG. 5 discloses a teatcup liner according to the prior art where theteatcup liner after milking is hanging down over the inlet nipple 8. Asappears there is still a substantial gap between the wall surface of theinner passage 7 and the end surface of the inlet nipple 8. FIG. 6discloses a teatcup liner 1 according to the invention, which isattached to the inlet nipple 8. The teatcup liner is not attached to ateat and is hanging down from the inlet nipple 8. As appears, theteatcup liner is bent to a larger extent and thus closes substantiallythe inner passage 7 since the wall surface of the inner passage 7 abutssubstantially the end surface of the inlet nipple 8.

The strengthened portion has an outer side that is provided withlongitudinal recesses or grooves 20 which extend in parallel to eachother and to the longitudinal direction x of the teatcup liner 1 oversubstantially the whole strengthened portion 3. Seen in across-sectional view, the main segment 15 of the strengthened portion 3will then have a shape similar to a tooth wheel. Some of the grooves 20extend continuously in the longitudinal direction x over the mainsegment 15 and the upper part 17 of the transition segment 16.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed but maybe varied and modified within the scope of the following claims. It isin particular to be noted that the invention also is applicable to otherhose devices than teatcup liners 1. For instance, it may be applied tothe short milk conduit or the long milk conduit between the claw and themilk-collecting member, or to other hoses of a milking machine.

1. A tubular hose device forming an inner passage for transporting milkto a claw having at least one inlet nipple, the hose device includingalong a longitudinal direction the following successive portions: afirst end portion; a strengthened portion; and a main hose portion, thefirst end portion being adapted to be attached to the inlet nipple in amounted state of the hose device by having the nipple introduced intothe first end portion, the strengthened portion including a main segmentadjoining the first end portion and having a wall thickness that isthicker than the wall thickness of the main hose portion, wherein thestrengthened portion also includes a transition segment adjoining themain hose portion, wherein the transition segment has an upper part andan opposite lower part Wand wherein the upper part of the transitionsegment has a wall thickness that is thicker than the wall thickness ofthe first end portion and the main hose portion, whereas the lower partof the transition segment has a wall thickness that is substantiallyequal to the wall thickness of the first end portion and the main hoseportion.
 2. A hose device according to claim 1, characterised in thatthe transition segment has a length that is adapted to facilitatebending of the tubular hose device at the strengthened portion.
 3. Ahose device according to claim 2, characterised in that the transitionsegment has a length that is at least 10% of the length of thestrengthened portion.
 4. A hose device according to claim 2,characterised in that the transition segment has a length that is atleast 15% of the length of the strengthened portion.
 5. A hose deviceaccording to claim 2, characterised in that the transition segment has alength that is at least 20% of the length of the strengthened portion.6. A hose device according to claim 1, wherein the upper part with thethicker wall thickness has an extension in a peripheral direction, whichextension is less than 180°.
 7. A hose device according to claim 1wherein the inlet nipple has an end surface which is obliquely cut,wherein the hose device in the mounted state is arranged to be attachedto the inlet nipple in such a way that the end surface extends into thestrengthened portion.
 8. A hose device according to claim 7,characterised in that the hose device is adapted to be located in such arotary position in relation to the inlet nipple that the upper part ofthe transition segment faces the end surface of the inlet nipple.
 9. Ahose device according to claim 1, wherein the first end portion includespositioning means for determining the rotary position of the hose devicein relation to the inlet nipple.
 10. A device according to claim 9,wherein, the first end portion has an end surface, wherein thepositioning means includes a chamfer provided at the end surface of thefirst end portion.
 11. A device according to claim 10, characterised inthat the chamfer and upper part of the transition segment are locatedsubstantially straight after each other seen in the longitudinaldirection.
 12. A hose device according to claim 1, wherein the thickerwall thickness of the main segment and the transition segment is formedby an outwardly convex bead.
 13. A hose device according to claim 12,characterised in that the bead of the main segment extends around theperiphery of the main segment.
 14. A hose device according to claim 12,wherein the bead of the transition segment extends over the upper part.15. A hose device according to claim 1, wherein the strengthened portionhas an outer side that is provided with grooves which extend in thelongitudinal direction of the hose device over substantially the wholestrengthened portion.
 16. A hose device according to claim 15,characterised in that some of the grooves extend continuously in thelongitudinal direction over the main segment and the upper part of thetransition segment.
 17. A hose device according to claim 1, wherein thedevice also includes a liner portion provided successively after themain hose portion, wherein the liner portion is adapted to be introducedinto a teatcup shell and to receive a teat during milking of an animal.18. A hose device according to claim 2, wherein the upper part with thethicker wall thickness has an extension in a peripheral direction, whichextension is less than 180°.
 19. A hose device according to claim 2,wherein the inlet nipple has an end surface which is obliquely cut,wherein the hose device in the mounted state is arranged to be attachedto the inlet nipple in such a way that the end surface extends into thestrengthened portion.
 20. A hose device according to claim 2, whereinthe first end portion includes positioning means for determining therotary position of the hose device in relation to the inlet nipple.